(G) Taking the (Schumacher) plunge...

Following my earlier thread about the death of my 1.6:

http://www.fiatforum.com/stilo/14513...ot-bummer.html

I've pushed the boat out and bought a Shumacher GP Prodrive. Only 3,000 genuine miles on an 06 plate for £8500 with a year's manufacturer's warranty left (dealer sale). Sound like a reasonable deal?

Not the car for these eco-friendly times I admit, but the sound of that 5-cyl through the stainless back box was irresistable! And the Eibach/Bilstein combo really tightens up the handling.

So, come on chaps, any tips on how to keep it in tip-top shape? I've read some horror stories on here about the 2.4 engine having a lifespan of 45,000 and want to avoid that..! Specifically, is the cambelt change interval the usual 5 years/36K?

May post some pics later, though there's loads on this link:

http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_model...r_uk/0505.html

(click on 'Photo Gallery').

Wouldn't be number 28 would it?

5 years or 72k Fiat reckon, but keep it to 40k should be best. Changing the oil and filter every 6000 miles is quite a good thing to do. I've always run mine on Shell Vpower since I've owned her and it seems to be better.

Keep the revs down if possible untill 10,000 miles or so just to help it run in a bit better, when starting from cold let the engine warm properly before opening the throttle fully, and let it run down at idle for a minute before turning off.

Get into the habit of checking the oil level religiously every 600 - 1000 miles as low oil level is never good.

The only thing I could find wrong with the car was someone had kindly nicked the plate off the dashboard - so I don't know. But I guess it would be a much later number than that as it was first registered in April 2006.

Just wondered because I recently traded in my totally mint Shumi Prodrive no. 28 at Thames , Slough. Mileage was about 2,500 but they may have added to that.

Sounds familiar. Was it on a private plate when you sold it? Just curious - why did you part with it?

It was a second car for me and very cherished, but for most of the week would just sit on my drive doing nothing, fantastic car though. Changed to a Panda 100HP which fits snugly in my garage when not being used.
It was not on a private plate when I sold it, But it did hang around for quite a while at Thames and came off Autotrader for a while and then back on.

Your a big boy Phill and no doubt read many posts on the forum about the unreliable nature of these cars so buy one at your own peril..[yellow peril]

So maybe it is yours, maybe not? I did an Experian check on it and it was first registered in April 2006 and had a keeper change and plate change in June 2006. Would that have been when you bought it? I've PM'd you the current registration mark...

Lol. Now why am I not surprised you said that? Unless it's got Panda written all over it you don't want to know...

mine is an abarth 3dr just turned 82thousand miles,i cover 380 miles a week dual track and motorway,so i would say drive it like,,,,,, HELL had opened up behind you and sometimes,,,,,,,,, heaven like,thats what i do anyway.congrats on your new car

Congrats, wont comment on the fuel economy or tax lol

ooooh that sounds familiar, mine got nicked when it was in the showroom

contacted shooweenick, and he got me a new plate, used my chassis number to get the car number, the plate was blank so i had to put the number on myself, but looks more complete now, give him a pm

congrats on the purchase though, you wont regret it, yes it needs a lot of loving and caring but the reward is so very very nice

i check my oil every other weekend religiously, as according to fiat, it uses 1ltr of oil every 1000 miles under normal driving, and more if your giving it large, so keep an eye on it, if it goes beep beep beep stop engine when your going round a roundabout at a bit of pace, it needs oil

When I collected the car, a plate had reappeared on the dash. Salesman was beaming and explained (you'll love this) he'd nicked it off another car and swapped it!

It's apparently two digits out from the correct number. So I may PM as you suggested...

dont know why the plaques are so desirable though?? who would want to nick a special edition plaque??

oooh look after the metal dust caps, if they havnt gone already, the oz's came with them, mine lasted......errr............45mins, till some little scroat nicked em

next day it was the centre caps off my wheels, never left it in my mates area where i couyldnt see it ever again